Article

The traditional thermoplastic aeroplane splint for axillary burn
contracture is heavy, uncomfortable, and time consuming and difficult to put on
and off. The present study tested the effectiveness of a newly designed
multi-axis shoulder abduction splint with an easy-to-change angle. DESIGN:
Randomized controlled parallel assessor blinded pilot.
SETTING: Inpatient
rehabilitation center in a general hospital. SUBJECTS: Twenty-four patients with
recent (< 30 days) burns around the shoulder joint were randomized into two
groups. After two dropouts,
11 patients used the new splint for four weeks and 13
patient were left unsplinted for four weeks. INTERVENTIONS: The newly designed
multi-axis shoulder abduction splint keeps the shoulder abducted at the highest
possible angle. MAIN OUTCOMES: The range of motion of the shoulder joint was
measured at 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4 weeks. Active abduction, flexion, and external
rotation were measured according to the zero position method by placing the axis
of the goniometer ventral to the shoulder joint. RESULTS: Repeated-measure ANOVA
revealed that the splint group developed significantly better abduction (P =
0.020) and flexion (P = 0.036) over 4 weeks than the non-splint group. ANCOVA
using the initial (0 week) angle and Shoulder Burn Depth Index as covariates
revealed that the splint group had significantly better abduction than the
non-splint group (P = 0.013). CONCLUSION: The new multi-axis shoulder abduction
splint resulted in a significant improvement in shoulder abduction angle compared
to unsplinted patients.
CI - (c) The Author(s) 2014.

Langue : ANGLAIS